Renaultsport Megane 265

Few hot hatches at any price can match the Renaultsport Megane 265 for driving fun. With its agile handling, scorching straight-line performance and race-bred pedigree, it sets the standard for thrills.

Better still, the Renault looks as good as it goes. Based on the sleek three-door, the racy Megane has more in common with a rakish coupe than upmarket hatch. The Renaultsport version is given even greater head-turning appeal courtesy of its chunky bodykit, aggressive black painted nose, F1-style rear diffuser and gaping centre exit exhaust.

Our test car also had £1,000 black 19-inch alloys that are finished with a distinctive red pin stripe around the rim. A sculpted dash design, soft-touch plastics and brightly coloured stitching for the seats, steering wheel and gearlever all help the cabin stand out. Standard kit is generous, with leather trim, heated seats, dual zone climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.

And while the interior doesn’t feel quite as solidly screwed together as the VW, it is more spacious than the Scirocco. As with the VXR there’s room for five, while there’s plenty of useful storage space. The Megane’s 344-litre boot trumps the VW’s, but it’s 36-litres smaller than the Vauxhall’s and has a high loading lip.

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Yet all thoughts of practicality will be blown away the moment you fire up the 261bhp turbo 2.0-litre engine. Despite suffering from a 15bhp deficit to the Astra, the Megane was a tenth of a second faster from 0-60mph, needing only 6.4 seconds. In-gear response was equally electrifying, and on the road the hot Renault overtakes slower traffic in the blink of an eye. Adding to the drama is a growling, competition car engine note at high revs, a slick gearshift and superb Brembo brakes.

But it’s the performance through corners that’s really breathtaking, particularly when fitted with the optional £1,350 Cup chassis that adds lowered and stiffened suspension, plus a mechanical limited slip differential.

On a twisting back road, the Renault is huge fun. The steering is perfectly weighted, while setting the ESP to Sport mode results in a sharp throttle response. There’s not as much grip as in the VXR, but the line through a corner can be subtly adjusted using a mix of throttle and steering and there’s almost no torque steer.

The price you pay for this agility is a firm ride, as there are no adaptive dampers. Still, wind and road noise are kept to a minimum, while the optional £1,300 Recaro seats are comfortable.

At £27,390, the Megane is £395 more than the Astra. Yet it’s better equipped, boasts stronger residuals and is backed by Renault’s 4+ package, which includes four years’ warranty, servicing and breakdown cover.

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Chart position: 1Why? Racy Renault Megane sets the standard for driving thrills. Recent update means more power, tweaked looks and improved quality.